Blog

NAN-H-76
Reactions
Ibadan, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) Nigerians on Wednesday reacted to the emergence of business mogul, Donald Trump, as the 45^th president of the United States, with respondents expressing diverse opinion on the direction of the country’s foreign policy.

Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, a former Sports Minister, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan that Trump’s rhetoric were mere campaign propaganda.

“I want you to know that decision making in the United States is  usually subject of legislative procedure.

“Therefore, any campaign promise made by any presidential candidate is equally subject to the party’s manifesto and the law .

“So, it is better for us to wait till Trump starts acting before crucifying him,” Adedoja said.

But Mr Femi Aborisade, an Ibadan-based legal practitioner and human rights  activist, disagrees with Adedoja.

Aborisade contended that the emergence of Trump as the new president was a calamity to the global community.

”Trump’s campaign statements over time did not represent progress for humanity.

“It is however, noteworthy to state that that the emergence of Trump represents the wishes of the conservatives in America,” Aborisaden said.

In his own view, Mr Adebayo Ojo, a former Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, argued that Trump’s campaign statements were mere political propaganda.

Corroborating Adedoja’s view, Ojo posited that the decision of any elected president of America was subjected to  congressional decision and rule of law.

In his contribution, Dr Ibrahim Uthman, a lecturer in the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, said Trump’s victory had critical implications for the Muslim world.

Uthman said that Trump would probably ban many foreigners, especially Muslims, from entering the United States.

“One thing I understand is that it is one thing to campaign in order to win an election, it is another thing to actually carry out the campaign promises,’’ he said.

A women and girl-child rights activist, Dr Adepeju Oti, said inspite of her loss, Hillary Clinton had been an inspiration to girls around the world and blazed the trail for others behind her.

Oti, who is the Executive Director, Global Youth Leadership and Girl-Child Foundation, said that Clinton  persevered to the end.

“Trump or no Trump, as a female,  I am inspired.

“Millions of girls out there who are being valued for how they look, tone of their voice, length of their hair and their physique are holding their thumbs up for Hillary.

“Her bravery, resilience and doggedness are inspiring. Any day,  win or lose, I am a Democrat and I’m still for Hillary.

“‎Hillary has fought the dirtiest of battles no presidential candidate anywhere in the world has ever fought.

“ The 2016 American election was intriguing, dirty, violent and full of desperation.

“ Americans have developed a new disease, Election Stress Disorder,” she said.

According to her, Clinton did not lose the elction because she was a woman but she lost to intrigues, blackmail, timing, lies and confusion of the American people.

“However, girls know now that they can be involved in the politics of their schools, contest for elections, campaign and be voted for. This is democracy in action,” she said.(NAN)
SEM/SYS/BA/OJO
==============
(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

NESREA threatens to seal organisations that flouted environmental laws

NAN-AE-9
Law
By Vivian Emoni
Abuja, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has threatened to seal any organisation that flouted environmental laws and regulations in the country.

The Director-General of the agency, Dr Lawrence Anukam, gave the warning in Abuja on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Anukam said the agency doesn’t just seal any firm but stated that there is a due process because we don’t want to stifle the economic development of any organisation.

“The agency doesn’t just seal firms; that should be our last resort.

“We follow the due process, we give them first compliance, second compliance and third compliance before we come to that level of sealing such firm.

“It is always the last resort and our plea to regulated community as much as possible; don’t let it come to sealing stage before you do the right thing.

“They should simply follow the rules, if your neighbouring company is complying with the environmental laws and you are not complying, it will affect negatively the other that is complying as well.

“So everybody must comply and if you don’t comply after series of warnings, the government has no choice than to seal up such organisation.

“Nobody is above the law irrespective of your position, “ he said.

Anukam said that the agency had training programme with the Nigeria Police on environmental matters, adding that the training would improve the nation`s sanitary conditions.

He said that the agency had also developed curricula on different cadres of police to facilitate the training programme.

The director-general explained that the training would engage the police on environmental compliance, monitoring and enforcement activities towards addressing environmental crimes.

He said that the agency had also embarked on the training of the government`s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Anukam added that the training would not affect all the MDAs but those MDAs whose mandates were on enforcement.

He called on organisations to comply with the environmental laws and regulations for a healthier and cleaner environment. (NAN)
VOE/MOL/AFA
Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Felix Ajide
============================

NAN-S-10

Preparation

By Aderonke Ojediran-Lawal

Lagos, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) Ex-international footballer, Ndubuisi Okosieme, has urged the Super Eagles to prepare well for Saturday’s match against the Desert Foxes of Algeria.

Okosieme told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday that the Super Eagles should expect a technical match against the Algerians.

He, therefore, urged the players to work hard and leave no stone unturned in their preparation.

Cue in audio

“The Algerians are a highly technical side; they always pose a threat each time we play them.

“Every game that Nigeria plays against Algeria has never been an easy one.

“And I am saying the Super Eagles should put up everything they have because the Algerians are not coming here to joke.

“They are not coming here to joke; they are coming here to get the point that is available.

“And I think our boys should work very hard and not leave any stone unturned.’’

Cue out audio

He expressed optimism that the Super Eagles will defeat the Algerians.

“They are not unbeatable but the Super Eagles should prepare very well,’’ he added.

Okosieme, who was a member of the Super Eagles squad that emerged as runners-up at the 1988  African Cup of Nations(AFCON), emphasised that the Super Eagles must be up and doing throughout the 90-minute match.

NAN reports that the Super Eagles and the Desert Foxes are in Group B of the 2018 World Cup qualifying rounds, alongside the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and the Chipolopolo of Zambia.

Nigeria is leading the group with 3 points followed by Algeria and Cameroon with 1 point respectively, while Zambia has no point after their 1-2 loss to the Super Eagles. (NAN)

OAF/ERO/OSA/YEE Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Shittu Obassa/Emmanuel Yashim

===========================================================

NAN-HG-4

Toilets

By Kabir Muhammad

Abuja, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) Mrs Olanipekun Omolola, Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), says the FCT Administration will soon construct public toilets at designated areas to encourage healthy environment.

Omolola disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

She said the issue of public toilets was of great concern to the administration and even to the board.

“So what this administration has done or what the FCT Minister, Malam Musa Bello, has done is to set up a committee to look into this issue.

“Because either we like it or not if you want to really achieve that modern city that we want there is need for people to have access to conveniences,” she said.

She said that the Social Development, AEPB, Engineering Department, and other relevant departments were also part of the committee.

The director said it would be captured in the 2017 budget, adding that the engineering department will be directly responsible for the construction of the facilities.

“After the construction of the facilities they will hand over the management to AEPB or to relevant departments assigned the role.

“So that is how far we have gone, the committee has gone round the city and has earmarked some places for the project,” she said.

Omolola assured that the present administration was doing everything possible to make life easy and simple for residents in the territory. (NAN)
KM/JPE/MST
Edited by Joseph Edeh/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

NAN-DS-10
Synergy
By Muhyideen Jimoh
Abuja, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), has urged the Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to forge better synergy to end kidnapping in the country.

The minister made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at a meeting with top management of the Police, NSCDC, zonal AIGs and their NSCDC counterparts.

He stressed the need for the two security agencies to work out better synergy considering the fact that criminals do not operate in isolation.

“In the face of rising security concerns, there is need for both agencies to collaborate with other security services in sharing intelligence and joint operations.

“This has become imperative considering the need to share resources by the agencies to address security issues and create a safe and conducive environment to attract direct foreign investments,’’ he said.

Dambazau condemned the senseless killings of innocent Nigerians at a mining site in Zamfara State.

He directed the Police and the NSCDC to apprehend perpetrators of the dastardly act, with a view to bringing them to justice.

The attack, he said, had strengthened his resolve to collaborate with the Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals to establish special squad comprising NSCDC personnel to protect mining sites across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by the acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry
Mr Mohammed Maccido, Directors and Security experts. (NAN)

MUYI/OIF/AEA
===========

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Archibong Asuquo

NAN-H-68

Approval

By Donald Ugwu

Abuja, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the purchase of 38 patrol jeeps worth N326.78 million  for the inspectorate divisions of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

The purchase of the vehicles is to boost the operations of the ministry.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, made this known in Abuja on Wednesday when he briefed State House correspondents after the FEC meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Cue in audio (Fayemi)

“We are one year in office, in two days’ time; so this is the anniversary cabinet meeting.
“And it gave us the opportunity to really reflect on the progress we’ve made as a government, the challenges that we still have to tackle and the commitment that we had to reiterate to Mr President for giving all of us the opportunity to serve the nation.

“And to do so in a manner that advances our democracy and the development of our country.

“Aside from that, we took on two other memoranda – one from the ministry of mines and steel development and another from the ministry of water resources.

“On the mines and steel development it was the approval of the direct procurement of Nissan four-wheel patrol vehicles for the mines inspectorate (division) in our 36 states.’’

Cue out audio (Fayemi)

According to the minister, for a decade, no vehicle has been purchased for the inspectorate divisions of the mines and steel development ministry, which oversees the artisanal mining situation in the various states of the federation.

He said the vehicles would be used for surveillance of areas where illegal mining activities take place and for field trips by the ministry’s workers.
Fayemi, who recalled the recent killing of some miners by bandits in Zamfara and the death of two miners in Paiko, Niger State, said that through proper surveillance such incidents could be avoided.

He further said that as part of the ministry’s road map, a surveillance task force had been established with the ministries of Interior, Defence, and Police Affairs.

He stated that the approval of the purchase of the patrol vehicles is an indication of the government’s commitment to supporting made-in-Nigeria products.

“Over the last three months, all the approvals we had for the purchase of vehicles for Mines and Steel, Interior, Immigration, EFCC were procurements authorized to buy vehicles from local assembly plants.

“This is so that we can begin to strengthen our automotive industry and the government remains committed to that and this approval is further confirmation of the government’s commitment in that direction.

“It speaks directly also of our determination to really begin to focus a lot more seriously on the activities of informal or illegal miners,’’ he said.

Fayemi added that the ministry was eager to define the role it could play in supporting artisanal and small scale miners in fulfilment of the administration’s job-creation and revenue-generation agenda.

He said the vehicles, worth N326.78 million, would be bought from local automobile companies and given to each of the 36 states and Abuja, with Lagos State getting two.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, who also briefed the correspondents, said that the second memo considered by FEC was the ratification of the Lake Chad Water Charter.

He said that a treaty that was signed by all the countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) in 2012, required the ratification of 95 per cent of the countries before it could come into effect.
LCBC is an intergovernmental organization that oversees water and other natural resource usage in the basin.

The commission was established on May 22, 1964 by the four countries that border Lake Chad: Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria and Chad.

Today, the commission has eight member governments, namely: Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Algeria, the Central African Republic, Libya, and Sudan – chosen for their proximity to Lake Chad.

N’Djaména, the capital of Chad hosts the headquarters of the commission.

Adamu said: “The charter was ratified today and the next stage is for it to go to the National Assembly for an enactment of the law to back it.

“The charter seeks to strengthen cooperation between all the member countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and to forge some kind of consensus on issues relating to the environment, security, and the future of the lake itself.

“The lake has been threatened by climate change over the years. It has shrunk to less than 10 per cent of its storage capacity 40 years to 50 years ago.

“And all efforts are being put in place to ensure that the lake is safe from extinction and to improve the security situation in the region.’’

The minister ascribed the restlessness and insurgency in the North East partly to the shrinking of the lake and expressed the hope that with other countries ratifying the charter, security in the region could be guaranteed. (NAN) DCU/LAB/YEE

Edited by Lydia Beshel/Emmanuel Yashim

===============================

Fayemi’s audio on FEC

Lagos Trade Fair: foreign exhibitors task LCCI on security
NAN-HE- 21
Security
By Taiye Baiyerohi
Lagos, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) Some foreign exhibitors at the Lagos International Trade Fair have decried the poor security arrangement at the fair complex, saying it was lax and encouraged activities of miscreants.

The exhibitors told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday that the organisers of the fair needed to beef up security on the ground.

An exhibitor, Mr Hassan Fanag, the Director, Egyptian Pavilion, said the complaint was pertinent as some of the products they came to exhibit had been stolen.

`There have been two cases of theft recorded within the Egyptian pavilion in which some items were carted away.

“This is due to laxity on the part of the security officers engaged to watch the premises.

“We call on the organisers, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), to ensure maximum protection of our properties.

“We do not want to experience any case of theft again; our goods should be sold and not stolen,’’ Fanag said.

Mr Hassan Nosr, a kitchenware exhibitor, who also complained of weak security presence at the fair, said that some facilities were needed to be supplied by the LCCI.

Nosr said that the carpentry work done on the tent’s floor was not smooth and customers could easily slip and fall coupled with problem of lighting.

“We want the LCCI to beef up security in the tent and ensure adequate power supply as lighting is important in the display of our goods to intending customers.

“Effective lighting will also curb activities of hoodlums.

“The carpentry work done here should be improved on next year because it is not neat,’’ the exhibitor said.
Another foreign exhibitor, Miss Mohammed Amer, who came to get Nigerian distributors for her products, also called for stronger security presence at the fair ground.

Amer said that the security officers engaged should be vigilant day and night and should not give priority to the night alone.

“The security officers should also be allowed to work, while we sell during the day,’’ She said. (NAN)
PTB/COF/TA
Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Tajudeen Atitebi

NAN-H-20
Boreholes
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Ezza North (Ebonyi), Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) A Lagos-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Initiative for Positive Leadership Ambassadors of Nigeria (IPLAN), has inaugurated boreholes in 22 Ebonyi communities.

Inaugurating the boreholes, the Founder of the NGO, Michael Ifere, said the project was initiated to solve the acute water challenges confronting the communities.

“Water is a necessity of life which the people need to survive, solve daily needs and it is important for the overall development of the people.” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the communities include Nkomoro, Okposi, Oriuzor, Ekka, Oshiegbe, Umuogahara and Umuezoka in Ezza North.

According to Ifere, the project will be extended to many other council areas in the state.

“We will also initiate capacity building programmes for youth empowerment.

“We will inaugurate skills acquisition centres in communities across selected council areas for the programme.

“This is to enhance the peoples’ living conditions which have been neglected for long and ensure crime reduction.”

He said that the NGO had also extended the gesture by donating relief items to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

“IPLAN was founded to assist the less-privileged in the society through the provision of relief materials to victims of natural and man-made disasters.

“We distributed drugs, medi-care equipment and other health needs to the needy to alleviate their sufferings and give them a sense of belonging in the society,” he said.

Ifere commended the state government for providing water to rural dwellers through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) projects.

“We appeal to other NGOs and donor agencies to emulate such gestures as the task of development should not be left to the government alone,’’ Ifere said. (NAN)
RCO/DE/WOJ/NKO

================

(Edited by Wale Ojetimi/Nkechi Okoronkwo)

U.S to assist Nigeria in disaster management

NAN-DS-9
Disaster
By Muhyideen jimoh
Abuja, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) The U.S has declared its readiness to assist Nigeria in improving its disaster response and emergency management capacity.

The U.S Bilateral Affairs Officer of the US Embassy in Abuja, Major Chiddy Adighije, said this on Wednesday in Abuja at a seminar on Disaster Response and Emergency Management organised by the US Embassy in conjunction with the Ministry of Interior.

Adighije said the major objective of the seminar was to educate the Nigerian agencies responsible for managing disaster on how it was done in the US while also discussing how to situate such strategies to meet the Nigerian situation.

“In the U.S, we have several agencies that are involved when it comes to disaster management and preparedness which is quite similar to what Nigeria has, however, implementation might be different.

“If there are any gaps, we hope this seminar will bring that to light and we will see where we can facilitate in bridging those gaps.

“It is the believe of the US Embassy and the Nigerian Government that having experts in the same room, they will be able to figure that piece out.

“Ultimately, what everybody wants to see is that the agencies that are responsible for disaster management can actually come to light and be productive in event of a disaster,” Adighije said.

He said that the seminar was meant to share experience between both countries and fashion out the best and most professional way to manage disasters in Nigeria.

Speaking on behalf of the Armed forces, Navy Commodore Ahmed Saleh, said disaster constituted a challenge to every government, stressing that it was important to know the best way to manage it.

“We want to know how best to manage disaster, that is why Nigeria invited the US to come and teach us how best to mitigate disaster in the country,” he said.

The representative of the Ministry of Interior, Mrs Modupe Omisere, said Nigeria was always open to assistance from the U.S who, she said, was always available to support Nigeria.

“We recognise the fact that we are not up to the task in the area of disaster management, so that informs this seminar,” she added.

Participants at the three-day seminar include officials from the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). (NAN)
MUYI/AMY/AMY
=======

Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-H-19
Licences
By Chinyere Nwachukwu and Rukayat Adeyemi
Lagos, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) Union leaders in the university education system have reacted to last week’s approval of operating licences to eight new private universities by the Federal Government, saying it was not resolve education sector challenges.

NAN reports that the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwuka, had announced the Federal Government’s approval of the licences following a memo submitted by the Federal Ministry of Education.

The minister announced the approval after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting last Wednesday in Abuja.

The educationists told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that establishing new university was not the solution to the challenges currently facing the education sector.

Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), said that establishing new universities was not all about creation of more access for students.

According to Ogunyemi, approving new universities can be a step in the right direction, but the current situation does not lie solely on it.

“If you look at it on one hand, it will be right to argue that the approval of these universities has opened more access for potential students to pursue their academic dreams.

“It looks like democratisation of education, in which case, we are trying to open more access for the teeming youths seeking university education.

“But then, we need to balance access with quality.

“There is really no need to keep approving more universities when the existing ones are almost in comatose.

“The opening of more private university is like saying that the Federal Government needs just quantity and displaying its failure to properly fund existing public universities.

“To me, I feel there is need to x-ray the sector, identify core challenges and balance quality with quantity.

“It will amount to nothing if we fail to carry out our various responsibilities,’’ he told NAN.

Dr Adelaja Odukoya, the Chairman of ASUU, ‎ University of Lagos Chapter, also spoke against the new universities, saying the government was confused in carrying out the action.

Odukoya told NAN that establishing more universities was not the solution to the crisis bedevilling the nation’s education system.

“Approval of operating licences for the new private universities at a time when private universities are patently unattractive and undesirable is highly unfortunate,’’ he said.

He urged the government to find a solution to the problem confronting the education sector which is beyond the commercialisation‎ of tertiary education.

Also, Dr Isaac Oyewunmi, Chairman of ASUU, Lagos State University (LASU) Chapter, said the newly licensed private universities might not last long before they close shop.

Oyewunmi said ‎the National Universities Commission (NUC), regulating activities of universities ought to have considered the timing before seeking government’s approval of their licences.

“From experience, the regulating institution do not usually consider the criteria they ought to before issuing these institutions licence because most of them are corrupt,’’ he said.

According to him, while the regulating institution may have reasons for its ‎actions, the timing, considering the present education system, is worrisome.

He advised the NUC to re-evaluate the timing of issuing licences to universities and take the right decision that would improve the education system. (NAN)
CCN/RUKY/AIB/PDE
================
(Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Peter Ejiofor)